Man with Alzheimer's forgets he doesn't have a licence, charges dismissed

Roderick Makim

A man with Alzheimer's, who forgot he didn't have a licence then drove his car, has had his charges dismissed in a central Queensland court.

Kenneth James Ainsworth, 87, appeared in the Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Wednesday facing charges of unlicensed driving and failing to provide his identifying particulars to the police.

Mr Ainsworth was supported by his wife and daughter in court, with his wife telling Magistrate Graeme Tatnell she would speak on behalf of her husband who has Alzheimer's disease.

Mrs Ainsworth did not think much of her husband's charges, calling the notice to appear before the court and the notice to give identifying particulars a "...packet of poo tickets".

As a result of Mr Ainsworth's medical condition, Mr Tatnell decided the 87-year-old did not have the capacity to enter a plea and dismissed the charges but the magistrate sought an undertaking from the man's daughter that she would ensure her father no longer had access to car keys.